Boom protection system

Abstract

A boom protection system prevents damage to an insulated boom section. The boom protection system has a static strain-detection assembly, a pressure-detection assembly, and an alarm. The static strain-detection assembly is configured to determine a load disposed from an implement at a distal end of said insulated boom section. The static strain-detection assembly includes a subject plate presenting a void therein, a traversing member spanning the void, and a strain gauge disposed adjacent to the traversing member. The pressure-detection assembly is configured to detect pressure within a hydraulic cylinder that is associated with the insulated boom section. The pressure detection assembly comprises a first pressure gauge at a distal end of the hydraulic cylinder, and a second pressure gauge at a proximal end of the hydraulic cylinder. The alarm is configured to alert a user of potential structural damage to the insulated boom section.

Having thus described various embodiments of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: 
     
       1. A boom protection system for preventing damage to an insulated boom section, comprising:
 a static strain-detection assembly configured to determine a load disposed from an implement at a distal end of said insulated boom section, including—
 a subject plate presenting a void therein, 
 a traversing member spanning the void 
 wherein the subject plate is oriented vertically, 
 wherein the traversing member is oriented diagonally, and 
 a strain gauge disposed adjacent to the traversing member; 
 
 a pressure-detection assembly configured to detect pressure within a hydraulic cylinder that is associated with the insulated boom section, including—
 a first pressure gauge at a distal end of the hydraulic cylinder, 
 a second pressure gauge at a proximal end of the hydraulic cylinder; and 
 
 an alarm to alert a user of potential structural damage to the insulated boom section. 
 
     
     
       2. The boom protection system of  claim 1 , wherein the boom protection system is configured to prevent failure of the insulated boom section by monitoring the load thereon. 
     
     
       3. The boom protection system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the subject plate is monolithic with the first traversing member. 
 
     
     
       4. The boom protection system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the subject plate is disposed between a platform bracket and a utility platform, 
 wherein the subject plate supports at least a portion of a weight of the utility platform, 
 wherein the subject plate presents at least one pin receptor for receiving a pin therethrough, 
 wherein the pin secures the subject plate and imparts at least a portion of the strain on the subject plate. 
 
     
     
       5. The boom protection system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the subject plate is disposed between a distal end of the boom section and a working jib, 
 wherein the subject plate supports at least a portion of a weight of the working jib. 
 
     
     
       6. The boom protection system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the hydraulic cylinder is configured to lift and lower the insulated boom section, 
 wherein a ratio of a reading of the first pressure gauge to a reading of the second pressure gauge is utilized to estimate a load emplaced on the insulated boom section. 
 
     
     
       7. The boom protection system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the alarm is configured to communicate with a remote, external computer system, 
 wherein the alarm reports said potential structural damage to the remote, external computing system. 
 
     
     
       8. The boom protection system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a central computing unit for estimating a total load emplaced on the insulated boom section and comparing said total load to a maximum allowable load, 
 wherein the total load is calculated based upon the static strain-detection assembly and the pressure-detection assembly, 
 wherein the central computing unit is communicatively coupled with the alarm. 
 
     
     
       9. A static strain-detection assembly configured to be secured at a distal end of an insulated boom section so as to measure a load thereon, the static strain-detection assembly comprising:
 a first subject plate presenting a first void therein, 
 wherein the first subject plate is oriented vertically, 
 wherein the first subject plate is configured to be installed between the distal end of the insulated boom section and an implement; 
 a first traversing member spanning the first void, 
 wherein the first traversing member is oriented diagonally; 
 a first strain gauge disposed adjacent to the first traversing member, 
 wherein the first strain gauge is configured to measure a strain upon the traversing member; and 
 a support member spanning the first void to provide structural stability to the first subject plate. 
 
     
     
       10. The static strain-detection assembly of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the first subject plate is disposed between a platform bracket of the insulated boom section and the implement, 
 wherein the first subject plate supports at least a portion of a weight of the implement, 
 wherein the implement is a utility platform. 
 
     
     
       11. The static strain-detection assembly of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the first subject plate is disposed on a pin interface assembly, 
 wherein the pin interface assembly includes a boom-interface pin configured to be secured to the distal end of the insulated boom section. 
 
     
     
       12. The static strain-detection assembly of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the support member is oriented horizontally, 
 wherein the first subject plate is monolithic with the first traversing member and the support member. 
 
     
     
       13. The static strain-detection assembly of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the first subject plate is associated with a pin interface assembly, 
 wherein the pin interface assembly presents a boom-interface pin configured to be installed into the distal end of the insulated boom section, 
 wherein the pin interface assembly presents an upper implement-pin receptor and a lower implement-pin receptor configured to interface with the implement. 
 
     
     
       14. The static strain-detection assembly of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the pin interface assembly further comprises a housing, 
 wherein the housing comprises the first subject plate, a top plate, a bottom plate, and a second subject plate. 
 
     
     
       15. The static strain-detection assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a second subject plate presenting a second void therein, 
 wherein the subject plate is configured to be installed between the distal end of the insulated boom section and the utility platform; 
 a second traversing member spanning the second void; and 
 a second strain gauge disposed adjacent to the second traversing member. 
 
     
     
       16. The static strain-detection assembly of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the second subject plate is disposed parallel to the first subject plate, 
 wherein a first reading is associated with the first strain gauge, 
 wherein a second reading is associated with the second strain gauge, 
 wherein the first strain gauge and the second strain gauge are configured to communicatively coupled with a central computing unit for calculating a total load on the insulated boom section. 
 
     
     
       17. A boom protection system for preventing damage to an insulated boom section, comprising:
 a first static strain-detection assembly associated with a utility platform at a distal end of the insulated boom section, including—
 a first subject plate presenting a first void therein, 
 a first traversing member spanning the first void, and 
 a first strain gauge disposed adjacent to the first traversing member 
 
 a pin interface assembly associated with the first subject plate, the pin interface assembly including—
 a boom-interface pin configured to be installed into the distal end of the insulated boom section, 
 an upper implement-pin receptor and a lower implement-pin receptor configured to interface with the implement, and 
 a housing that includes the first subject plate, a top plate, a bottom plate, and a second subject plate; and 
 
 an alarm to alert a user of potential structural damage to the insulated boom section. 
 
     
     
       18. The boom protection system of  claim 17 ,
 wherein the alarm is configured to communicate with a remote, external computer system, 
 wherein the alarm reports said potential structural damage to the remote, external computing system. 
 
     
     
       19. The boom protection system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a central computing unit for estimating a total load emplaced on the insulated boom section and comparing said total load to a maximum allowable load, 
 wherein the total load is calculated based at least in part upon the first static strain-detection assembly, 
 wherein the central computing unit is communicatively coupled with the alarm. 
 
     
     
       20. The boom protection system of  claim 17 ,
 wherein the first subject plate supports at least a portion of the weight of the utility platform.